> I think the use of AI is really missing the point here. The point is that small in-house teams can deliver a lot more quickly and to a higher quality and at a lower cost than large outsourced teams from the big consultancy companies.

This assumes that small in-house teams are inherently effective/efficient, which is not necessarily true.

In this sense, the difference between proven engineering leads (as the article states/assumes) leading a small team versus AI is that the latter is entirely under their control, which minimizes the risk.

So AI vs. small teams is about controlling/guaranteeing effectiveness/efficiency.